There are 68 remaining spaces across all teams, which will be filled via the draft on 12 March, while there will be a wildcard draft in May where teams can sign in-form players from the domestic circuit.

Smith will be joined at Fire by Jonny Bairstow, who has been retained, while fellow Australian Marcus Stoinis has been picked up by Trent Rockets.

Former Australia women’s captain Meg Lanning has joined two-time winners Oval Invincibles and seamer Megan Schutt will play for Birmingham Phoenix.

Invincibles have signed Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan, former New Zealand quick Trent Boult has joined Phoenix, while South Africa batters David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen have been picked up by Superchargers and Manchester Originals respectively.

Australia leg-spinner Alana King and all-rounder Ash Gardner have been retained by Rockets with England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt, while Fire have retained Tammy Beaumont and West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews.

Invincibles won the men’s Hundred for the second year running in 2024 and Spirit won the women’s competition.

The England and Wales Cricket Board recently oversaw the sales of stakes in the eight Hundred franchises, with the teams achieving a collective value of over £975m, bringing in around £520m to be split across the game in this country.